The Code of Hammurabi was one of many sets of laws in the Ancient Near East. Before Hammurabi there were many different tribes in the area. Some of these were the Hittie, Ur, and the Mosaics. All these different tribes had their own set of law codes that they followed. Marduk, who was the Chief and leader of the gods, sent Hammurabi to rule over Babylon. His mission was to bring the different tribes and their law codes together, to form one common identity. Hammurabi began his rule of Babylon in 1795 B.C. He was a dignified prince who feared God. He became king at a young age but was ready to take on the challenge presented to him by Marduk. Hammurabi was to get rid of the evil and wicked, make it so the strong …show more content…
Divorce is explained in laws 137 through 140 and was optional with the man, but he had to deal with dowry. Dowry consisted of money, real estate, or household furniture, which would remain the wife's for life. If the couple had children it was passed on to them. If there were no children, he must give her the dowry and let her go. The women got custody of the children and the man had to give her money along with other things so she was able to maintain herself and the children until they grew up. If she had been a bad wife, the husband was allowed to send her away or make her a slave. He was them able to keep the children and the dowry. If the woman was widowed she took her husbands place in the family and raised the children. Last, if the wife was unable to bear children she was to give her husband a maid to bear him children and they were considered hers.
Another rather large subject in The Code of Hammurabi is crimes. The crimes emphasized on were theft, buying stolen property, kidnapping, and murder. Most of these crimes were punishable by death. Crimes such as stealing property from the court were punishable by death and the person who received the stolen good was also put to death.